Chapter 27: A Desperate Escape
Lilia couldn't believe what she had just heard. Had Zethan really meant what he said? She didn't have time to process it fully—her wide eyes and stunned silence spoke louder than words.
Zethan's chilling laughter cut through her haze, the sound cold and hollow, like shards of ice scraping against stone. He added casually, as if it were an afterthought, "Don't worry. You've got all the time in the world to think. When you're ready, I'll be waiting."
For a moment, her body froze. The weight of his words bore down on her like an unseen force, pinning her to the spot. Then, as if a switch flipped, her instincts kicked in. Without a single word, she turned and shoved the gate open with trembling hands, the creak of the iron hinges echoing into the night. She bolted, her legs carrying her faster than they ever had before.
She didn't look back.
"Just leave," she whispered to herself, the words like a mantra, barely audible over the thudding of her heartbeat.
Her breaths came in ragged gasps, each one burning her lungs, but she didn't care. The cool night air stung her face as she ran, her feet pounding against the uneven ground. Who knew she could run like this? It felt like her body wasn't even her own, as if some primal force had taken over, driving her forward.
Pain shot through her legs, sharp and unrelenting, but she ignored it. The darkness around her seemed alive, shadows shifting and stretching with every flicker of moonlight. Her vision blurred with unshed tears, but she didn't dare slow down.
When she finally reached the road, a glimmer of hope flickered in her chest. The faint glow of streetlights in the distance seemed to promise safety. Her head whipped around, chest heaving, as she scanned the area behind her.
No one was following her.
A bitter smile tugged at her lips. What had she been expecting? For Zethan to chase after her? Of course not. The idea was absurd. If anything, he had looked relieved to see her leave. Maybe he had only entertained her father's request out of obligation, a sense of pity he couldn't hide. After all, Zethan already had a fiancée—or perhaps it was "ex" now—and Lilia? She was no one special.
The thought stung more than it should have, but there was no time to dwell on it.